The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-09
IATIOAAL LEGISLATURE.
yEE HOUSE HAS A MONOPOLY In
LAW MAKING.
The Appropriation for Public Build
ings at Charleston Occupies much
time Without any Result.

Mr.. Haley Idaho, from the Commit
tee on Indian Affairs, reported bill
for the purchase OF tract OF land
near Salem, Ore, for the use of the
Indian training school. Committee
of the Whole.
Mr.. Dibble Is. O., from the Com.
mittee on Pnblic Buildings and
Grounds, reported back Senate bills
author zing the construction OF a pub.
lie building at Houston, Tex, and
changing tbs limit of appropriation
for the building at Denver, Col. Com
mit'ee Of the Whole.
Mr.. Cox IN. c. from the Committee
on Civil Service Reform, reported
back the Senate bill Tepaaling the tan
ure of Office act. Houge calendar.
Mr.. MorroR (Cal.) presented petit
ton Of the Chamber of Commerce, of
Eureka, Cal, asking for al sppropria-
ton OF $500 900 to improve the chan
mel OF Humboldt bay. Referred
The House then, in the morning
hour, went into the Com nittee of the
Whole, with Mr., Cox IN. " in the
char, f7r the consideration Of bills le-
ported from the COMMITTEES on Pubic
BUILDINGS anu GrOuuOS.
Tbs first bill called up was that ap-
propriating $50, 00e for the purchase
of site and The erection OF public
building at Charleston, 8 O., aud in.
dorsing the sale of the present post
Office building 10 that city.
Mr.. Hepburn Ia) opposed the
bill. The city of Charlestoo has been
the scene of terrible calamity, which
rendered ii unwiss that the govern
ment should erect new building at
the cost of $j00C00. There was no
permanent structure there which had
not been seriously iDjured, and no.
we'll nigh destroyed. The vibrst ons
were continuing, and in the face of
that fact it did not seem wise to make
this appropriation at present. Nor
did he think that the business OF that
city justified it.
Mr.. Hepburn moved to reduce the
appropriation TO 5000 00O. Lost.
On the motion OF AIR. Dibble IS. C.)
to limit debate, Mr.. Hepburn raised
the point OF no quorum, and the
morning hour having passed in an un.
successful attempt to secure a quorum,
the committee rose and the bill went
over without action.
The House then voted-yeas Isl,
nays 33-aud went into Committee of
the Whole, Mr.. Springer (Ill.) in the
chair, on the bill consolidating certain
bureaus of the Navy Department.
Mr.. Goff wv. Val said that the or
ganization of the Navy Department
was on trial today, the organization
which had existed from 1912 down to
the present time, and which the Sc
rotary of the Navy said was vicious
and ought TO be abolished. A system,
he submitted, which had wrought the
great results which the present system
had not, was net and could not be vi
eious. Still, it! was to be tried. The
Secretary was the prosecutor; the
Congress was the jury, and it was
asked 10 condemn without single
reason given to show wherein the sys
tenn was vicious. The claim that the
bill would promote economy was a
false claim. Instead of reducing the
number Of the bureaus eff GERS to
five, the bill really increased it TO
twelve. He then proceeded to Criticise
what he regarded as the moot obi &C.
tionable features of the meas-
ure, dwelling especially upon the
failure to provide that the head of
the bureaus. with the exception OF the
Bureau Of Material Construction and
Repair, should have any special fit
ness for the duties assigned to them.
The President had called the navy a
''sbabby ornament" the Secretary
of the Navy had declared that its Or
ganiEation YVES vicious; and yet after
months of study and session of
analysis the Committee on Naval Al
fairs brought forward a bill which
gave the old system over sgain. There
was change only in name.
9 Mr.. Buck Comm strongly adyo-
Gated the bill. He would VOC for any
4 beneficial measure, whether it was
proposed by Democrat or Repub-
licsn. He might add that after Re-
publican Secretaries of the Navy had
for years recommends; d just this legis-
lstion, the gentlemen from NJ sine and
West Virginia (Messrs. Boutelle and
Goff) said eve must not do it now"
because Democratic Secretary
recommends il. These gentlemen
seemed to be in favor of the Repub-
licsn side Topping because the Demo-
cratic side had been Topping. Laugh
ter.
Mr.. Boutelle-Have you any found
alton for intimsting that the gentle
men from West Virginia and Maine
have at any time, any where, favored
any such measure as this destroying
the functional Organization of the
Navy Department, when recommend
ed by Republican Secretaries, and
have changed front now and OPP
pose it2
Mr.. Buck-I have not.
Mr.. Bout lle-I am glad TO have a
categorical answer.
Mr.. Buck-You ara opposed to it
today, were opposed to it yesterday
and will be opposed to it tomorrow
and everlastiDgly opposed to it as long
rs Democratic Secretary is in power.
Laughter
Mr.. Thomas Qll) advocated the
measure, but he wished to disabuSe
the minds Of members of the House Of
the idea that 1t was a Democratic
measure.
Pending further debate the commit
tee rose.
The Senate joint resolution was
passed appointing James P. Angel a
member OF the Board OF Regents Of
the Smithsonian Institute.
Mr.. Willis (Ky.) reported the river
and harbor bill, and the House ad-
journed.
JUDGE THURMAN